The comments came nearly two months after US President Donald Trump announced the US was moving its embassy from the Israeli city of Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, following through on a long-held pledge to recognise the city as Israel's capital.

Though previous US leaders, including former presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush, and Bill Clinton, had spoken of doing the same during their tenures, Trump was the first to actually make the move.

The decision has attracted strong criticism from Muslim states, including opponents of the US, such as Iran, but also its traditional allies, such as Turkey.